TRUTH IS THE FIRST CASUALTY

                From November 14-16, 1965, the U.S. Army fought the first battle of the Vietnam War.  A battalion was helicoptered into the Ia Drang valley to sneak up on a North Vietnamese regiment, but knocked over a hornet’s nest of three regiments.  The three days of combat were intense and often close-up.  In the end American firepower won out and the communists withdrew after taking heavy casualties.  It was described to the press as a significant victory and validation of the search and destroy strategy that would win the war through attrition.  This was an exaggeration, but there is no doubt it was a victory.  What happened next was definitely not.  On Nov. 16, the unit that had done most of the fighting was airlifted out by helicopter, but reinforcing units were to march through the jungle to bases.  On Nov. 17, a battalion led by Lt. Col. Bob McDade ended up strung out 550 yards on the trail through jungle terrain leading to LZ Albany.  When two prisoners were taken (and another escaped to bring word to his officers), McDade called a halt to interrogate the prisoners and discuss tactics.  He called all his company commanders to the conference.  They brought their radio operators and most of their first sergeants.  While the leadership isolated itself, the grunts lounged around, many of them napping.  In a stroke of bad luck, there was a North Vietnamese regiment resting in the area.  Discovering the Americans in an exposed position, they quickly arranged an ambush.  The tall grass allowed them to approach the Americans undiscovered.  Suddenly, mortar fire fell on the G.I.s.  Machine guns opened up from on top of large termite hills.  Snipers were in the trees.  Cut off from their lieutenants and sergeants, the companies were in disarray.  It was every man for himself.  The fighting lasted six hours and was hellacious.  Neither side gave quarter.  Many wounded Americans were finished off.  Air support and artillery was called in but since the foes were close to each other, some of the bombs and shells killed and wounded Americans.  Before reinforcements arrived, 155 Americans were killed.  It was a royal butt-whipping and should have taken some of the shine off the victory at Ia Drang.  However, in a move that would be repeated throughout the war, the press was not given the true story.  A general told reporters there had been no ambush and the casualties had been light to moderate.  Not the first lie and not the last.

https://www.historynet.com/ia-drang-where-battlefield-losses-convinced-ho-giap-and-mcnamara-the-u-s-could-never-win.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Ia_Drang#Day_4:_November_17